Trump Threatens Decertification of Canadian Aircraft, Floats 50% Tariffs

US-Canada Trade Tensions Escalate Over Aircraft Certification Dispute

Article Former US President Donald Trump has announced a dramatic escalation in trade tensions with Canada,

declaring that aircraft manufactured north of the border will no longer be certified for use in the United States unless US-made business jets receive approval in Canada.

In a public statement, Trump said the decision would apply to all Canadian-made aircraft and warned that a 50 percent tariff

would be imposed on planes sold into the US market if the issue is not resolved immediately.

He argued that Canada’s certification process effectively blocks American aircraft from entering its market,

creating what he described as an unfair trade imbalance.

The announcement comes amid a broader period of strain in US-Canada relations, marked by disputes over trade,

sovereignty, and foreign policy alignment.

The move follows earlier warnings of punitive tariffs against key trading partners and signals a tougher stance on cross-border commerce.

Aviation experts have raised serious concerns about the feasibility and legality of such a measure.

Aircraft certification in the United States is traditionally handled by aviation safety authorities rather than political leaders,

and no precedent exists for a president directly decertifying civilian aircraft.

Industry analysts warn that grounding Canadian-made planes could significantly disrupt US air travel.

Many regional flights rely on aircraft produced in Canada to connect smaller and rural airports to major hubs.

Hundreds of these jets operate daily across the country, supporting tens of thousands of passenger seats.

If these aircraft were removed from service,

analysts say the impact could be severe, potentially cutting off air access to dozens of smaller communities and causing widespread scheduling disruptions across major airlines.

There is also uncertainty over the scope of the proposed action, including whether it would affect helicopters and specialized

aircraft such as medical evacuation services, an area where Canada is a major supplier.

So far, no formal regulatory steps have been announced,

and aviation authorities have not confirmed any changes to certification rules.

Industry leaders caution that using aviation safety as leverage in trade disputes could have far-reaching and unintended consequences for passengers, airlines, and regional economies.

–